74novacustom

So here is the thing, i have 9 kids. Blended Brady Bunch. We cant easily go on vacation anywhere due to Hotel costs, plus we normal bring friends and more family along on Vacations. Our 12 Passenger van just wont cut the mustard for the trips. So i have found school buses for 3-8k and actually nice. My parents can paint it. i was in construction for 12 years so i can build the inside to accommodate all of us in travel and to stay in while on vacation.

My big question is Can an LS replace the power plant in a bus and cope with the weight? I know in my old 04 Escalade the lq9 was a monster and it was stock and going through an AWD system. I would go with an LQ9 with a cam, a 4l80 and maybe a turbo.

Or should i be looking at an 8.1? with an Allison for the torque.

I mainly ask because one was an international and it had some 392 gas engine with a carb on it. And if some 392 gas powered international can do it, i know and LQ9 can for sure.

hookemdevils22

iTrader: (12)

Hahahahaah, rich I effing love this idea. FWIW, there are a few Scouts with LS swaps. It's certainly possible, but I'd recommend a diesel for the torque and relatively decent fuel mileage. and I'd have no problem helping if I ever find the time.

Doug G

????Maybe I guess ???? They're in UPS trucks...but unsure of weight.

MPG will suck unless a 6 spd. and a 2 spd rear ? Still not that great.

74novacustom

Thanks Trevor,

I was just thinking for upfront cost an ls would be way cheaper than doing a dmax swap. Some of them already have diesels in them, but like 220hp and 400tq.

I would use the allison or 4l80.

Most of the driving would be OTR. Also id want to tow our 12 passenger van for local driving haha i know im asking a lot.

tonypaul

iTrader: (2)

Also instead of going the buss route and doing a LS swap you might just look for a RV. I go to car auctions sometimes with my friend whos a used car dealer. Theres always some great priced RV's there, I saw a really nice one that had a just a little bit of damage. It looked like someone rubbed up against one of those yellow poles that around gas pumps, it sold for $5500.00

If you could find something like that you could fix cheap, use the RV for a could years then sell it and get your money back. I think a LS buss would be totally bitchen but if it ever came down to you selling it, you might end up lossing money on it...
Just a thought~

Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

Cummins 6bt...they can be had cheap, my buddy parts out several buses and sells the motor for around $1500 bucks

smnitFB

iTrader: (3)

This is what I'm talking about. I've always been and still am a Chevy guy but you won't catch me dead around a duramaxx

edit: Sorry that was off topic, I've swapped LS's into anything I can get my hands on and I think it wouldn't be a terrible swap but I don't think you'll get the torque and fuel economy to make it a desirable effort without a diesel.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

RV's seem to prefer the Ford V10's for some reason. Kinda hard to find RV's with even an 8.1 GM motor. I would think a 6.3L LS motor would need to rev too much to live very long.

By the way, most school buses ride like crap and typically don't have AC.

chuckd71

iTrader: (23)

Why not buy a limo

bczee

iTrader: (12)

If he is going to do it.. i'm in for the road trip ..! LOL....

LORDDiESEL

I've done a few cummins re-powers. 94 to 98 p-pump 6BT gets my vote.

G-Body

iTrader: (4)

Check into drivers license requirements and insurance before you push too far ahead. IIRC you may need to have a CDL if anyone but family is in the bus, even though your not using it commercially. Insurance can also be a pain / expensive for anything that can haul that many people.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Consider an RV with a BBC or 8.1. You'll need a lot of displacement for a big vehicle towing another big vehicle.

74novacustom

All very good points, I never thought about insurance. That might be a game changer alone

Ive never seen a non Walter White/nice RV go for that cheap. But ive never looked.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Check local craigslist for RVs. There are a lot around here cheap. Although most older ones will have BBC 454 or BBF 460.
Avoid the Ford V10s. Search stripped spark plug threads and you'll find out why.
The extra purchase price of the diesels probably wont make up in fuel costs over a gas engine. Especially since diesel costs more around here and it doesn't sound like you'll be putting on a lot of miles.
Plan on new tires though. They're expensive and tend to rot if not worn out.

74novacustom

ya i wouldnt purchase one with a Ford engine unless the plan was a swap anyway, but a bb 454 would be great, thats an easy swap to a newer 8.1.

Wound-for-Sound

Look into old Uhaul van trucks...There are a ton of people now gutting the backs and building a RV...There powered by a 6.9/7.3 ford that'll get about 11 MPG. Theres a couple on Pirate4x4 that haul a off road buggy in the van that also has living quarters and pull one too...And you just license them as a RV, most states require you have X out of X features and it's considered a RV.

74novacustom

HMMM the walls seem thin, but strong i guess, and wide enough to build 2x2 walls inside

AmishAssassin

iTrader: (2)

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/rvs/4162266383.html

Just go this route.

74novacustom

That is about exactly what im thinking. Id keep the front 5 or so rows of seats with belts but yes